Pottstown is divided into zoning districts listed in the chart
below. Zoning districts of Pottstown neighborhoods that were mostly
built more than 50 years ago are grouped together in a Conservation
District overlay. Commercial areas adjacent to historic neighborhoods,
and entryways to Pottstown's historic areas, are grouped together
in a Gateway District overlay. Special rules also apply to areas in
a floodplain and for Pottstown's Airport District.

An official
map is on file in the office of Pottstown's Zoning Officer in
Borough Hall. This map is a part of this Chapter and shall be known
as the Pottstown Borough Zoning Map. Where there is any uncertainty,
contradiction, or conflict as to the location of any zoning district
boundary, the Zoning Officer shall make an interpretation.

Pottstown is nearly fully built out. Less than 5% of Pottstown's
land area is vacant and suitable for building. Therefore, most future
development in Pottstown will involve the renovation and alteration
of existing buildings and the construction of new buildings interspersed
with existing development.

Changes in the appearance of existing buildings and new construction
interspersed with existing historic buildings have a powerful impact
on the established character and the social and economic well-being
of the residents and property owners of Pottstown.

One of Pottstown's greatest assets is its heritage. Its
oldest neighborhoods were built more than 100 years ago, and its downtown
took its current form in the late 19th century. Nearly all of Pottstown's
residential areas are at least 50 years old.

Through participation in numerous plans and studies, the people
of Pottstown have said they want to preserve and enhance the traditional
character of Pottstown. They like its rich architecture and its neighborhood
feel, with sidewalks, street trees, and mixture of houses, offices
and stores within walking distance of each other.

Moreover, numerous studies have recommended that Pottstown's
future lies in building on its heritage. For example, a study by the
Urban Land Institute noted:

"For its size, Pottstown contains some of the oldest, most architecturally
significant, charming housing stock in the Northeast. Some of this
stock is very well maintained. Preserving it is not only vital to
Pottstown's long-term future, but could very well serve as a
major tool for marketing the community."

Pottstown has two Historic Districts, in the downtown area and
along High Street, certified by the Pennsylvania Bureau for Historic
Preservation. In 2002, after officials visited Pottstown and reviewed
documentation provided by the Borough, the Bureau for Historic Preservation
declared the vast majority of Pottstown's traditional neighborhoods,
many of which are outside Pottstown's Historic Districts, as
eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The traditional neighborhoods outside the Historic Districts,
and similar adjacent neighborhoods, are hereby incorporated into a
Conservation District with the following purposes:

•

Preserve the architectural integrity of traditional areas

•

Ensure new buildings are compatible with existing traditional
areas

•

Find viable uses for old buildings that are no longer suitable
for their original use

It is the intent of the Conservation District to incorporate and
utilize the requirements and provisions of Sections 603, 604, and
605 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to create such
Zoning Ordinance provisions that will:

Regulate the uses of structures at, near, or along places having
unique historical architectural interest or value as contemplated
by the relevant provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning
Code.

Any applicant who seeks within the Conservation District to demolish
a building, construct a building or construct an addition to an existing
building, as described in Section 303 above, shall submit an application
provided by the Borough. The application shall include the information
described in Section 202 of this Chapter.

The Zoning Officer shall review the application and determine if
the proposal meets the guidelines of this Chapter, and, if so, the
Zoning Officer shall approve the application. At the discretion of
the Zoning Officer, the Zoning Officer may submit the application
to Borough Council for its review and approval. The review and approval
by the Zoning Officer and/or Borough Council shall be based upon the
design guidelines in Sections 306 through 317 of this Chapter.

Any applicant that seeks to alter the facade of an existing building
in the Conservation District shall submit an application provided
by the Borough. The application shall include the information described
in Section 202.1B of this Chapter.

Shall be compatible with the architectural style of existing
historic buildings.

Building placement

Should have the average setbacks as existing buildings on the
same block within a radius of 250 feet.

Building size and width

Should be the average size as existing buildings on the same
block within a radius of 250 feet, or appear to be from the street.

Building height

Should be the average height of existing buildings on the same
block within 250 feet.

Base, body, cap

Should have base, body, cap similar to adjoining buildings.

Proportion of building walls to openings

Window and door openings visible from the street in existing
historic buildings should not be enlarged or reduced

The proportion of walls to openings on walls visible from the
street should be from 2:1 to 1:1.

Building form

Buildings should match existing buildings on the same block
as either vertical or horizontal form.

Texture and pattern of exterior materials

New materials, such as siding, should appear similar to original
materials.

Exterior building materials should be compatible with the materials
used in nearby historic buildings.

No vinyl siding over brick or stone walls

Additions

Additions should be at the rear, in a very few cases the side,
but not the front. Additions should be similar in form, scale and
materials to existing building.

Porches

Front porches and side porches facing a street should not be
enclosed. If enclosure is absolutely necessary, the original elements,
including proportion of walls to openings, must be retained.

Porches needed on new buildings if adjacent buildings on the
block have porches facing the street. The new porches should be similar
in form, scale, and materials to existing porches.

Accessory Buildings

Garages should be same general size, height and placement as
existing garages and similar accessory buildings on the same block
within 250 feet radius. Storage sheds shall be no larger than 120
sq. feet.

Fences and walls

Restrictions on materials for front and side fences facing a
street.

Restrictions on materials for front and side fences facing a
street

Height: Front fences: 3 feet

Height: Front fences: 3

Side fences facing street: 4 feet

Side fences facing street: 4 feet

Interior side and rear fences: 6 feet

Interior side and rear fences: 6 feet

Parking lots

Should be located to the rear of buildings whenever possible.
Second choice: Side of buildings. Access should be from alley or side
street whenever possible

Demonstrate that demolition of a building is an unavoidable and integral
part of a construction scheme affecting a larger area than the building
in question, which will, in the opinion of the Borough Council, provide
substantial public benefit.

Pottstown encourages property owners to rehabilitate existing
historic buildings rather than redesign them. In the vast majority
of cases, the best design is the building's original design.

Background: The following illustration (on file at the Borough
office) demonstrates many of the details that define the characteristics
of Pottstown buildings and give them their unique "personality". The
most important part of any building is its "facade," the front of
the building facing the street.

Design guideline for existing buildings:

Pottstown encourages property owners, whenever possible, to
retain or repair original architectural features such as cornices,
lintels, windows and doors. If these features cannot be repaired,
they should be replaced with reproductions of the originals. If this
is not feasible, they should be replaced with features that are similar
in size and scale to the original. The facade is the most important
part of the building to conserve in its original form.

Design guideline for new buildings:

New buildings in the Conservation District shall be compatible
with surrounding historic homes in:

For measuring distances pursuant to this Section, unless otherwise
specified, all measurements shall be made from the center point of
the existing lot. In addition, the term "block" shall mean both sides
of the street.

The average distance between the existing buildings on the same block
facing the same street within a distance of 250 feet from each side
property line. In order to address potential concerns of health and
safety, the Zoning Officer, at the Zoning Officer's sole discretion,
may require a side yard setback of up to six feet.

This distance may be adjusted by as much as 30%, unless the result
is less than the minimum required six-foot setback from the property
line, if applicable. This distance also applies to additions to existing
buildings. The 30% adjustment may be applied only during the time
of initial layout of the building on the site during the plan approval
process. Field adjustments for building location may require an amended
plan, subject to the discretion of the Borough or its representative.
If required, an amended plan shall be submitted to the Borough for
the approval process as outlined in Sections 200, A200, A200.1, 201,
201, and 203 of this Chapter.

The average rear yard distance of the existing buildings on the same
block facing the same street within a radius of 250 feet.

This distance may be adjusted by as much as 50%. This distance
also applies to additions to existing buildings.

How to measure distances: Distances can either be measured in
the field or by using GIS or Sanborn maps available at Pottstown Borough
Hall.

Setback from curbline: A property owner wishes to subdivide
the lot at 246 Chestnut Street, shown in an illustration on file at
the Borough Office, and construct a new building. Using the Sanborn
Map, we see there are 18 buildings facing the street on the block.
At least 30% of the buildings are placed adjacent to the sidewalk
(nine feet back from the curb), so the new building may be placed
nine feet back from the curb (adjacent to the sidewalk). Alternately,
we can add the setbacks of all 18 buildings and divide by 18 to get
an average setback of 12 1/2 feet from the curb, which may be
adjusted by as much as 30%, for a possible setback of nine feet to
16 feet from the curb.

Setback from other buildings: Measuring the total distance between
the 18 buildings on the block and dividing by 18, we reach an average
distance of 11.6 feet. This can be adjusted by as much as 30%, so
a new building may be placed, as a minimum distance, eight feet from
neighboring buildings or a minimum distance of six feet, if applicable,
from each side property line, whichever is greatest. Twin homes or
townhomes shall be counted as one building for purposes of determining
these distances.

Setback from rear lot line: Measuring the total distance of
the existing 18 buildings from their rear lot line and dividing by
18, we reach an average distance of 65 feet. This figure may be adjusted
by 50%, so a new building may be placed, as a minimum distance, 33
feet from the rear lot line.

A 1907 Sanborn Map of Pottstown shows the footprint of every
building on the 200 block of Chestnut Street. The block has remained
the same for nearly 100 years. Note the buildings are generally proportionate
in size, shape, setback from the street, and side yards.

Setbacks in undeveloped areas: Except for lots of one acre or more,
in cases where a new principal building is being proposed on an area
of the Neighborhood Residential District or the Traditional Town Neighborhood
District where no block structure exists or where there are fewer
than four existing principal buildings on the block facing the same
street, the applicant shall use the closest block with at least four
principal buildings facing the same street to determine the size,
setbacks and height of new buildings. For lots of an acre or more
in the Neighborhood Residential and Traditional Town Neighborhood,
see Section 403, Large Lot Conditional Uses.

When determining the placement of new principal buildings, the determination of the building's location, when calculated under Subsections 1 through 5 above, shall utilize only those buildings with similar uses, comparing new residential buildings with existing residentially used buildings and new nonresidential use buildings with existing nonresidential use buildings.

In the
event there are any vacant or undeveloped parcels, those parcels shall
not be utilized in the calculation or averaging for the establishment
of building separation, distance, or any setback calculation.

In Neighborhood Residential or Traditional Town Neighborhood Districts:
A new building, or an existing building with a new addition, may be
30% to 100% larger than other buildings facing the same block as a
conditional use if the applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction
of Borough Council that the facade of the new building will be compatible
with existing buildings on the block regarding:

In all cases, the new building or existing building with a new addition
must conform to the side yards and setbacks in Section 308, the height
limitations in Section 310, and meet all other provisions of this
Chapter.

In the Downtown District: A new building, or an existing building
with a new addition, may be of any size as a conditional use if the
applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction of Borough Council that
building a larger structure will be compatible with the existing buildings
on the block regarding:

Background. Building height is the vertical distance from the
grade at the front of the building to the top of the roof for buildings
with flat roofs. For other buildings, the perceived height is measured
as illustrated in photos on file at the Borough Office. Cupolas, towers,
or turrets of less than 50 square feet are not counted when measuring
height.

In the Downtown District: A building may be up to 60 feet high as
a conditional use if the applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction
of Borough Council that building a higher structure will be compatible
with existing buildings facing the same block regarding base, body
and cap; form; scale; texture and pattern of exterior materials; and
proportion of walls to openings.

Background: The number and size of windows and doors in a building
strongly affect its appearance. The amount of open space in a wall
can be expressed as a ratio. For example, a building with twice as
much wall space as windows and doors would have a two to one ratio.

Most of Pottstown's historic buildings have a wall to openings
ratio between two to one and one to one. Some new buildings have walls
that are largely glass or largely wall. To be compatible with Pottstown's
existing buildings, they should have wall to openings ratios between
two to one and one to one.

If windows and doors are replaced, the new ones shall use the same
space as the windows and doors they are replacing. They shall not
create a larger or smaller opening in the wall. If the property owner
can demonstrate that the current doors and windows are not original,
the facade may be restored to its original proportion of wall to opening.

Design guideline: New buildings shall match adjacent buildings to
determine whether they will have a vertical or horizontal orientation.
If a new building is considerably larger than adjoining vertical buildings,
its facade shall be divided into vertical sections.

Background: From the colonial era to the Second World War, most
buildings in Pottstown were constructed of brick. A relative few were
made of stone or wood. After the war, many houses were constructed
of asphalt shingles and aluminum siding. In recent years, stucco and
various synthetic siding materials have been used.

If new materials are used to cover existing exterior walls that are
constructed of materials other than brick, they should be similar
in appearance to those of other buildings facing the same the block
within a radius of 250 feet.

New materials not found on other buildings on the block may be judged
acceptable if, in the judgment of the Borough, the new building conforms
with existing buildings in other ways, such as height, form, scale,
and proportion of wall to openings.

Because facades are so important to the appearance of a building,
additions should be avoided at the front of a building. Whenever possible,
additions should be constructed at the rear of a building, or the
least conspicuous side. The more visible the addition from the street,
the more important compatibility becomes.

Background: Porches are a common element of traditional Pottstown
homes. They are semienclosed with a roof attached to the building
and supported by columns, allowing people to sit outdoors protected
from the elements.

Occasionally property owners will enclose a porch to provide
more living space, but it is almost always at the cost of degrading
the appearance of the building.

Front porches and side porches that face a street shall not be enclosed,
except by glass or screens that leave intact the original elements
of the porch — the open space, the railings, columns and roof.

When columns and railings need replacement, they shall be replaced
with the same materials as the original or materials that are similar
in appearance to the original. Wrought iron or aluminum columns shall
not replace wooden elements. Wooden railings and columns shall be
painted.

Background: Fences and walls are another integral part of Pottstown
neighborhoods. Traditionally, fences in front yards have been short
enough so people could easily talk over them. They have been made
of wood, wrought iron, or brick. In areas where buildings have been
built up against the sidewalk, however, fences have formed part of
the street edge and sometimes are as high as six feet.

Intent: To maintain and enhance historic neighborhoods consisting
mostly of single-family housing with only a few nonresidential uses;
to encourage infill development with similar housing types on smaller
lot sizes.

Office (except client-based social service provider) on first
floor, and dwelling – apartment/condominium on upper floors

Any existing nonresidential building with a minimum of 1,500
square feet on the ground floor of the principal building:

Direct retail direct service restaurant – nonalcoholic

Any existing nonresidential building consisting of two or more
stories with a minimum of 2,500 square feet (existing on the date
of enactment of this amendment) on the ground floor of the principal
building:

[Amended by Ord. 2085, 9/12/2011]

Apartment/condominium

Any existing dwelling – apartment/condominium building:

Office (except client-based social service provider), solely,
or with apartment/condominium on upper floors

The following uses are prohibited on High Street between York and
Evans Street, Hanover Street between the Norfolk Southern tracks and
Buttonwood Alley, Charlotte Street between the Norfolk Southern tracks
and Buttonwood Alley:

Pottstown's gateway districts form the major entryways
to downtown Pottstown and its historic neighborhoods. They do much
to establish the initial impression of Pottstown. Unfortunately, these
areas include some of the least attractive development in the Borough.

After the Second World War, a new form of development evolved
that was much different from Pottstown's downtown and traditional
neighborhoods. Located on the eastern and western edges of Pottstown
along its major thoroughfare, High Street, this development was geared
almost entirely to automobile use. It usually consisted of modest
buildings with large parking lots in front of them.

At the crossroads of other thoroughfares, such as Charlotte
and Wilson Streets, and Hanover Street and Farmington Avenue, other
small businesses cropped up that were designed for the automobile.
Meanwhile, automobile-oriented industrial uses evolved at the southern
entrance of Pottstown, Hanover Street. These uses are convenient for
people in cars, but not very attractive, and certainly not compatible
with adjacent historic residential neighborhoods.

Although the use of the car is essential to keep these businesses
viable, it is the intent of Pottstown Borough to encourage the revitalization
and redevelopment of these areas to make them more attractive and
more compatible with surrounding historic neighborhoods. In the long
term, Council believes, this will enhance their economic viability
for the future and improve Pottstown's quality of life.

The proposed demolition of any building with a footprint larger than
500 square feet and located in a district declared eligible for the
National Register of Historic Places by the Pennsylvania Bureau for
Historic Preservation.

Any applicant who seeks within the Gateway District to demolish a
building or construct an addition to an existing building, as described
in Section 322 above, shall submit an application provided by the
Borough. The application shall include information described in Section
202 of this Chapter.

The Zoning Officer shall review the application and determine if
the proposal meets the guidelines of this Chapter, and, if so, the
Zoning Officer shall approve the application. At the discretion of
the Zoning Officer, the Zoning Officer may submit the application
to Borough Council for its review and approval. The review and approval
by the Zoning Officer and/or Borough Council shall be based upon the
design guidelines in Sections 326 through 331 of this Chapter.

Any applicant who seeks to alter the facade of an existing building
in the Gateway District shall submit an application provided by the
Borough. The application shall include the information described in
Section 202.1B of this Chapter.

Any applicant who seeks to construct a new building in the Gateway
District shall submit an application provided by the Borough. The
application shall include the information described in Section 202.1B
of this Chapter in addition to the material required in the subdivision
and land development process.

The Zoning Officer shall review the application and determine if
the proposal meets the guidelines of this Chapter, and, if so, the
Zoning Officer shall approve the application. At the discretion of
the Zoning Officer, the Zoning Officer may submit the application
to Borough Council for its review and approval. The review and approval
by the Zoning Officer and/or Borough Council shall be based upon the
design guidelines in Sections 326 through 331 of this Chapter.

In any district declared eligible for listing in the National Register
of Historic Places, the demolition of any existing building of historic
value should be considered a last resort, only after the applicant
can either:

Demonstrate that demolition of a building is an unavoidable and integral
part of a construction scheme affecting a larger area than the building
in question, which will, in the opinion of Borough Council, provide
substantial public benefit.

Downtown Pottstown and Pottstown's traditional neighborhoods
were built in a number of distinctive styles which give the Borough
its pleasant character. Various examples are pictured in the Conservation
District Sections 307 through 316.

Design guideline. New buildings within the Gateway Overlay District
should be compatible with these styles. As existing buildings are
renovated, and additions constructed, they should be designed to be
compatible with the styles of existing buildings in adjacent traditional
neighborhoods. (Photos on file at Borough Office).

Background: The number and size of windows and doors in a building
strongly affect its appearance. The amount of open space in a wall
can be expressed as a ratio. For example, a building with twice as
much wall space as windows and doors would have a 2:1 ratio.

Most of Pottstown's historic buildings have a wall to openings
ratio between 2:1 and 1:1. To be compatible with Pottstown's
existing buildings, new buildings in Pottstown's Gateway Districts
should have wall to openings ratios between 2:1 and 1:1.

In the case of other existing walls, if new materials are used to
cover them, the materials should be compatible with the materials
on buildings in adjacent traditional neighborhoods, such as wood and
brick.

New materials not found on existing buildings in adjacent traditional
neighborhoods may be judged acceptable if, in the judgment of the
Borough, the new building conforms in other ways, such as height,
form, and proportion of walls to openings.

Intent: To promote the redevelopment of existing vacant industrial
sites at the entryway to the downtown, creating a pleasant mixture
of stores, homes, and offices that will complement the downtown to
the north, the historic residential neighborhood to the east, and
the Schuylkill River and Greenway to the south.

Manufacture and assembly of small electrical appliances and
parts such as lighting fixtures, fans, electronic measuring and controlling
devices, radio and television receivers, and home electronic equipment,
not including electrical machinery

Manufacture of boxes, containers, bags, and other packaging
products from previously prepared materials, but specifically excluding
the manufacture of paper from pulp

Manufacture, assembly and packaging of jewelry, watches, clocks,
optical goods and professional and scientific instruments

Intent: To establish and improve areas for modern, efficient offices
and industries that provide a wide variety of employment opportunities
and enhance the community. To provide a variety of job-producing manufacturing
industries in Pottstown's Keystone Opportunity Zone, located
along Keystone Boulevard.

Intent. To establish and preserve areas for necessary industrial
and related uses of such a nature that they require isolation from
many other kinds of land uses, and to make provision for commercial
uses that are located most appropriately near industrial uses or that
are necessary to service the immediate needs of people in these areas.

Intent: To protect Pottstown residents and property owners from the
dangers of floods, the floodplain of the Schuylkill River and its
tributaries within Borough boundaries are incorporated into a Floodplain
Overlay District.

The identified floodplain area shall be those areas of Pottstown
which are subject to a one-hundred-year flood, as identified in the
Flood Insurance Study dated December 19, 1996, and the most recent
maps prepared for the Borough of Pottstown by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency to accompany that study. The Flood Insurance Study
Maps are located in the Pottstown Zoning Officer's Office in
Borough Hall.

Flood Fringe Area: The remaining portions of the one-hundred-year
floodplain in those areas identified as an AE Zone in the Flood Insurance
Study, where a floodway has been delineated. The basis for the outermost
boundary of this area shall be the one-hundred-year flood elevations
as shown in the Flood Insurance Study.

The floodplain districts described in Section 340 shall be overlays
to the existing underlying districts as shown on the official Pottstown
Borough Zoning Map, and as such, the provisions for the Floodplain
District serve as a supplement to the underlying district provisions.

In the Flood Fringe Area, all structures shall be elevated or designed
and constructed to remain completely dry up to at least 1 1/2
feet above the one-hundred-year flood. These structures shall also
be designed to prevent pollution from the structure or activity during
the course of a one-hundred-year flood.

DETAILS. For details of these standards, see Zoning Appendix
A3, Section A339, located at the end of this Chapter.

To prevent accidents and eliminate safety hazards in the vicinity
of the Pottstown Municipal Airport, certain height restrictions are
imposed on all structures within the Airport Overlay District. In
addition, any land use which interferes with navigational signals
or radio communications between the airport and aircraft is restricted.

DETAILS. For details of these standards, see Zoning Appendix
A3, Section A342, located at the end of this Chapter.